Bag and spool assembly having key to access cavity of dispenser

ABSTRACT

A bag dispenser for a roll of bags wound about an axle includes a housing in which the axle and bags are disposed. A removable lid encloses an opening for the housing and engages the axle in an operative position. The lid includes a mechanism for preventing engagement of the lid and housing. The dispenser also includes a mechanism for selectively disengaging the engagement preventing mechanism. The disengaging mechanism is activated when the lid engages the housing and axle in the operative position.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/007,426, filed on 7 Dec. 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to devices for collecting animal litter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dispenser of bags for collecting animal litter.

The rapid increase of urban population coupled with the increasing popularity of dogs and other pets has created a serious sanitary problem in connection with the disposal of animal litter, and particular canine litter. Because many animal pet owners have permitted their animals to deposit solid excrement on both private and public property, a number of communities have enacted ordinances requiring pet owners, under penalty of fine, to retrieve and dispose of lifter created by their pets.

It has been found that the willingness of pet owners to retrieve and properly dispose of animal litter is related to the ease, convenience and economy with which the litter may be handled in a clean and sanitary manner. While a number of devices have been proposed for the purpose of disposing of animal litter, they have suffered from various shortcomings. Some devices are not completely disposable and, therefore, require some degree of cleanup. Other types of devices, both of the disposable and reusable varieties, are awkward and/or conspicuous to carry. Moreover, some prior animal lifter collection devices are too expensive for everyday use.

One commonly accepted method for collecting and storing animal litter until a proper disposal site can be found involves the use of a disposable plastic bag. Some pet owners will simply place a plastic bag, such as a plastic grocery bag, in a clothing pocket for retrieval when needed. This method of collecting animal lifter presupposes, however, that the pet owner will always have access to and remember to grab a plastic bag prior to walking the pet. There have been proposals to provide devices which would store plastic bags within a container that may be worn by the owner or the pet. Each of these prior devices, however, suffers several disadvantages which the present invention is intended to overcome.

The retractable leash has been gaining popularity for the last twenty years and has taken its place as a permanent pet product. Some have recognized the desirability of providing an easy way to carry pet waste cleanup bags when going for a walk utilizing such a retractable leash. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,469 discloses a retractable leash placed into an animal waste collecting device which incorporates its own handle, bag holder and flashlight. It is believed, however, that such an assembly involves apparatus and associated costs which are undesirable.

Accordingly, there is a need for a bag dispenser which provides access to bags when needed. There is a further need for a bag dispenser which provides access to a roll of plastic bags when needed. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides other related advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a bag dispenser which provides access to bags when needed as well as a bag dispenser which provides access to a roll of plastic bags when needed. The bag dispenser provides bags for a variety of purposes including, without limitation, the collection of animal waste.

A bag dispenser for a roll of bags wound about an axle embodying the present invention includes a housing in which the axle and bags are disposed. A removable lid encloses an opening for the housing and engages the axle in an operative position. The lid includes a means for preventing engagement of the lid and housing. The dispenser also includes a means for selectively disengaging the engagement preventing means. The disengaging means is activated when the lid engages the housing and axle in the operative position.

The engagement preventing means includes a pair of wedges and a spring-loaded plunger having an annular recess for engaging the wedges when the plunger engages the disengaging means in the operative position. The wedges extend outwardly from the lid and prevent engagement of the lid and housing in an inoperative position. A portion of the wedges automatically move into the annular recess, allowing the lid to engage the housing, as the plunger engages the disengaging means.

The lid includes an axle guide extending into the axle in the operative position. The disengaging means includes a closed end of the axle.

The lid positions the wound bags centrally within the inner cavity as the bags rotate within the housing, the axle being rotatable relative to the lid.

The lid snap-fits to the open end of the housing. The lid also includes a means for connecting the dispenser to a leash.

The housing includes a means for rotatably supporting the axle which can be in the form of an axle guide extending into the axle. The housing also includes an aperture through which the bags are individually removable therefrom.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bag dispenser is located on a leash assembly having a handle and a leash extendable from and retractable into the leash assembly.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. In such drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a leash assembly incorporating a bag dispenser embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view another bag dispenser embodying the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded front perspective view of a lid and axle embodying the present invention for use with the bag dispensers of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded front perspective view of the lid of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional exploded side elevational view of the bag dispenser of FIG. 1 illustrating the interior of the bag dispenser, the lid and the axle in an inoperative position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the bag dispenser of FIG. 5 with the lid engaging the housing and axle in an operative position;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the lid and axle of FIG. 3 in the inoperative position, shown without the housing and without the bags; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional front perspective view of the lid and axle of FIG. 7 shown in the operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1-8 for purposes of illustration, the present invention resides in a bag dispenser 10, 80 for a roll 12 of a plurality of plastic bags 14 connected end-to-end, wound about a tubular axle 16.

The bag dispenser 10 embodying the present invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3-8, includes a removable lid 18 and a housing 20 in which the axle 16 and bags 14 are disposed. The bag dispenser 10 is located on a leash assembly 22 having a handle 24 and a leash 26 extendable from and retractable into the leash assembly 22. The bag dispenser 10 is of unitary construction with the leash assembly 22. Alternatively, the bag dispenser 10 can be separate from the leash assembly 22 and attachable thereto by a sliding rail mounting (not shown) or the like.

The removable lid 18 encloses an upper open end 28 of the housing 20 and engages the axle 16 in an operative position. However, the lid 18 has a means for preventing engagement 30 of the lid 18 and housing 20 as well as a means for selectively disengaging 32 the engagement preventing means 30.

The engagement preventing means 30 on the lid 18 includes a pair of wedges 34 positioned within slots 36 of the lid 18 in which the wedges 34 are slidably movable. The wedges 34 extending outwardly from the lid 18 and help prevent engagement of the lid 18 and housing 20, keeping the lid 18 and housing 20 in an inoperative position by the wedges 34 being positioned so that there is not enough space to allow a neck 38 of the housing 20 to move between ends 40 of the wedges 34 and a neck 42 of the lid 18. The ability of the wedges 34 to slide allows enough space to be created between the ends 40 of the wedges 34 and the neck 42 of the lid 18 to allow the neck 38 of the housing 20 to move between the ends 40 of the wedges 34 and the neck 42 of the lid 18. However, the sliding movement of the wedges 34 is restricted by a spring-loaded plunger 44 movable within a moveable hollow shaft 46 positioned within a bore 48 of the lid 18. The sliding movement of the wedges 34 is also restricted by a stop 35 that extends into an aperture 37 of the lid that accesses the slot 36. The shaft 46 and plunger 44 extend from a shaft 49 on a bottom side of the lid 18. A flexible button 50 snap-fits to the lid 18 and is positioned over and extends into the bore 48 of the lid 18 on a top side of the lid 18. A spring 52 is positioned generally within the bore 48 and around a rod-like extension 56 of the button 50 and within a recess 53 at an end of the shaft 46. An end 58 of a rod-like extension 54 of the plunger 44 is slidable within an inner bore 47 of the shaft 46 and contacts a closed end 51 of the shaft 46 in the operative position. An end 60 of the rod-like extension 56 of the button 50 and the spring 52 engage a closed end 55 of the recess 53 of the shaft 46. The shaft 46 has an annular recess 62 for engaging curved ends 64 of the wedges 34 when the plunger 44 engages the selectively disengaging means 32 in the operative position and the spring-loaded plunger 44 is forced towards the end 49 of the shaft 46 which forces the shaft 46 towards the lid 18. This movement of the plunger 44 against the end 49 of the shaft 46 allows the recess 62 to be aligned with the wedges 34 so that a portion of the wedges 34 automatically move into the annular recess 62. This movement creates the space between the wedges 34 and the neck 42 of the housing 18 to allow the neck 38 of the housing 20 to slide therebetween and allow the lid 18 to engage the housing 20. Otherwise, the spring 52 pushes against the shaft 46 so that the recess 62 is not aligned with the wedges 34. The lid 18 covers the housing 20 and positions the roll 12 of bags 14 centrally within the housing 20 in the operative position. The lid 18 snap-fits to the open end 28 of the housing 20 in the operative position.

The disengaging means 32 includes a closed end 64 of the axle 16. The activation of the disengaging means 32 by contact of the closed end 64 of the axle 16 with the plunger 44 allows the lid 18 to engage the housing 20 and axle 16 in the operative position since the plunger 44 is moved by the closed end 64 as the lid 18 engages the axle 16 to the point where the wedges 34 can move into the annular recess 62 of the shaft 46.

The shaft 49 of the lid 18 includes an axle guide 66 extending into the axle 16 and engages an interior shaft guide 68 sized and shaped to engage the axle guide 66.

The housing 20 is generally cylindrical and defines an inner cavity 70 for holding therein the roll 12 of plastic bags 14. The housing 20 has an aperture 72 in a sidewall of the housing 20 which permits access to the inner cavity 70. The roll 12 of plastic bags 14 is disposed within the inner cavity 70 of the housing 20 such that the bags 14 may be individually removed therefrom through the aperture 72 in the housing 20. The roll 12 of plastic bags 14 may be inserted into and disposed within the inner cavity 70 through the upper open end 28 of the housing 20. Once the lid 18 engages the housing 20 in the operative position, the lid 18 positions the wound bags 14 centrally within the inner cavity 70 as the bags 14 rotate within the housing 20, the axle 16 being rotatable relative to the lid 18.

The housing 20 includes a means for rotatably supporting 74 the axle 16 in the form of an axle guide located on a base 76 of the housing 20, the axle guide 74 extending into the axle 16. The axle 16 is removably connected to the housing 20 as the axle guide 74 on the interior base 76 of the housing 20 extends into a lower portion of the interior of the axle 16 where the axle guide 74 is frictionally retained by the interior surface of the axle 16. The interior of the lower portion of the axle 16 is sized and shaped to conform with the axle guide 74. For example, the axle guide 74 is generally circular with an annular neck (FIGS. 5 and 6) to match the circular shape and annular recess of the interior of the axle (FIGS. 5 and 6) and sized so as to be frictionally retained therein. In this manner, the axle 12 is rotatable relative to both the lid 18 and the base 70 of the housing 20 as the ends of the axle 16 are securely yet rotatably retained centrally within the inner cavity 70 of the housing 20.

The roll 12 of bags 14 is adhesively connected to the axle 16. A piece of tape (not shown) or the like connects an end of a first bag 14 on a new roll 12 to the roll 12. The tape is removed and the first bag 14 is threaded through the aperture of the housing to place the dispenser 80 in condition for use. One side of each bag 14 includes a releasable dry adhesive (not shown) for adhering to another side of at least one bag 14 in the roll 12 of plastic bags 14. The adhesive assists the bags 14 in maintaining cohesiveness as a roll 12 and prevents the roll 12 from unwinding during use of the dispenser 10.

In accordance with another embodiment of a bag dispenser 80, as seen in FIGS. 2-4, 7 and 8, the removable lid 18 engages a housing 82, similar to housing 20, in which the axle 16 and bags 14 are disposed. The only practical difference between the housings 20, 82 is that the housing 82 of FIG. 2 is not part of a leash assembly 22, as is the housing 20 of FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. Otherwise, the lid 18 engages the housing 82 in a manner similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this embodiment, the lid 18 also includes loops or brackets 84 extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom for connecting the bag dispenser 80 to a leash (not shown) or the like. Ties (not shown) may be used to connect the loops to the leash or the loops may be directly connected to the leash.

In use, fifteen or so plastic bags 14 are wound about the axle 16 to form the roll 12. A replacement roll 12 may include bags 14 pre-wound about an axle 16 which replaces the bag-exhausted axle 16 from the previous roll 12 or new bags 14 can be wound about the axle 16 used for the previous roll 12. Either way, the lid 18 and axle 16 are removed from the housing 20 to place the new roll 12 within the inner cavity 70 of the housing 20 is used. The axle 12 is either engaged to the lid 18 or placed into the housing 20 and the lid 18 engaged to the axle 16 as the lid 18 is placed onto the housing 20. The end bag 14 of the roll 12 may then be accessed through the housing aperture 72 and withdrawn from the housing 20 as desired. The entire roll 12 of plastic bags 14 disposed on the axle 16 will rotate within the housing 20 as the bags 14 are withdrawn therefrom. The bags 14 are preferably releasably attached to one another such that one bag 14 may be easily separated from another after being withdrawn from the dispenser 10, 80 yet the bags 14 are sufficiently attached to one another to prevent such separation as the bags 14 are being withdrawn from the dispenser 10, 80.

The bag dispensers 10, 80 and their various components may be made of a variety of materials including, without limitation, metal or plastic.

The bag dispenser 80 is intended to be utilized in connection with a collar, harness or a leash device (not shown) commonly utilized when walking one's pet. The bag dispenser 80 may also be attached to a key chain (not shown) or the like. The leash device may be simple leather or chain leash or a leash device that incorporates a retractable leash that extends from a housing.

Although several embodiments have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 

1. A dispenser for a roll of bags wound about an axle, comprising: a housing in which the axle and bags are disposed; a removable lid enclosing an opening for the housing and engaging the axle in an operative position, the lid having means for preventing engagement of the lid and housing; and means for selectively disengaging the engagement preventing means; wherein the disengaging means is activated when the lid engages the housing and axle in the operative position.
 2. The bag dispenser of claim 1, wherein the engagement preventing means comprises a pair of wedges and a spring-loaded plunger having an annular recess for engaging the wedges when the plunger engages the disengaging means in the operative position, the wedges extending outwardly from the lid and preventing engagement of the lid and housing in an inoperative position, and wherein a portion of the wedges automatically move into the annular recess, allowing the lid to engage the housing, as the plunger engages the disengaging means.
 3. The bag dispenser of claim 2, wherein the lid includes an axle guide extending into the axle in the operative position.
 4. The bag dispenser of claim 2, wherein the selectively disengaging means comprises a closed end of the axle.
 5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid positions the wound bags centrally within the inner cavity as the bags rotate within the housing, the axle being rotatable relative to the lid.
 6. The bag dispenser of claim 1, wherein the lid snap-fits to the open end of the housing.
 7. The bag dispenser of claim 6, wherein the lid includes means for connecting the dispenser to a leash.
 8. The bag dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes means for rotatably supporting the axle.
 9. The bag dispenser of claim 8, wherein the supporting means comprises an axle guide extending into the axle.
 10. The bag dispenser of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an aperture through which the bags are individually removable therefrom.
 11. The bag dispenser of claim 1, wherein the bag dispenser is located on a leash assembly having a handle and a leash extendable from and retractable into the leash assembly.
 12. A dispenser for a roll of bags wound about an axle, comprising: a housing in which the axle and bags are disposed, the housing having means for rotatably supporting the axle and an aperture through which the bags are individually removable therefrom; a removable lid enclosing an opening for the housing and engaging the axle in an operative position, the lid having means for preventing engagement of the lid and housing; and means for selectively disengaging the engagement preventing means; wherein the disengaging means is activated when the lid engages the housing and axle in the operative position, and wherein the lid positions the wound bags centrally within the inner cavity as the bags rotate within the housing, the axle being rotatable relative to the lid.
 13. The bag dispenser of claim 12, wherein the engagement preventing means comprises a pair of wedges and a spring-loaded plunger having an annular recess for engaging the wedges when the plunger engages the disengaging means in the operative position, the wedges extending outwardly from the lid and preventing engagement of the lid and housing in an inoperative position, and wherein a portion of the wedges automatically move into the annular recess, allowing the lid to engage the housing, as the plunger engages the disengaging means.
 14. The bag dispenser of claim 13, wherein the lid includes an axle guide extending into the axle in the operative position and the disengaging means comprises a closed end of the axle.
 15. The bag dispenser of claim 12, wherein the lid snap-fits to the open end of the housing and includes means for connecting the dispenser to a leash.
 16. The bag dispenser of claim 12, wherein the supporting means comprises an axle guide extending into the axle.
 17. The bag dispenser of claim 12, wherein the bag dispenser is located on a leash assembly having a handle and a leash extendable from and retractable into the leash assembly.
 18. A dispenser for a roll of bags wound about an axle, comprising: a housing in which the axle and bags are disposed, the housing having an axle guide extending into the axle for rotatably supporting the axle and an aperture through which the bags are individually removable therefrom; a removable lid enclosing an opening for the housing and engaging the axle in an operative position, the lid having means for preventing engagement of the lid and housing; and means for selectively disengaging the engagement preventing means; wherein the engagement preventing means comprises a pair of wedges and a spring-loaded plunger having an annular recess for engaging the wedges when the plunger engages the disengaging means in the operative position, the wedges extending outwardly from the lid and preventing engagement of the lid and housing in an inoperative position, a portion of the wedges automatically moving into the annular recess, allowing the lid to engage the housing, as the plunger engages the disengaging means, the disengaging means being activated when the lid engages the housing and axle in the operative position, and wherein the lid positions the wound bags centrally within the inner cavity as the bags rotate within the housing, the axle being rotatable relative to the lid.
 19. The bag dispenser of claim 18, wherein the lid includes an axle guide extending into the axle in the operative position and the disengaging means comprises a closed end of the axle.
 20. The bag dispenser of claim 18, wherein the lid snap-fits to the open end of the housing and includes means for connecting the dispenser to a leash. 